Manual pump for dispensing lubricants

ABSTRACT

A manual pump for lubricant fluids having a body capable of mounting a removable color scheme to identify a particular fluid within the drum for managing customized fluid identification labels and attendant documents for accurately and uniquely identifying fluids for an advanced fluid management system in which the pump attaches to drums and containers for moving lubricants from bulk storage, to intermediate container or to the point of application on plant equipment and machinery in residential commercial or industrial applications.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/054,476 entitled “MANUAL PUMP FOR DISPENSING LUBRICANTS” filed on May 20, 2008 and is related to U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/801,821 entitled “SUPPLY CHAIN LABEL SYSTEM” filed on May 12, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a manual pump for dispensing lubricants, and more particularly, to a pump that complements a labeling system for storing and managing customized fluid identification labels and attendant documents for accurately and uniquely identifying fluids for an advanced fluid management system in which the pump attaches to drums and containers for moving lubricants from bulk storage, to intermediate container or to the point of application on plant equipment and machinery in residential, commercial or industrial applications with a removable color scheme.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Users of lubricants and other fluids currently face a very costly, fragmented and non-systemic problem in being able to quickly, accurately and uniquely identify their various fluids in a standardized format from bulk storage, to intermediate container, to point of use on plant, equipment and machinery in order to be in compliance with OSHA and other safety authority requirements while also considering the needs of the color blind or users who have a first language other than that which is the native language of the geographic location.

At present Users need to work in isolation to try to develop their own unique fluid identification conventions for use in their applications to ensure all fluids are accurately and adequately identified, but they also have to create and attempt to source their own labels from a disjointed array of supply and material possibilities, all of which is not core to the nature of their business or competence.

Compounding this problem for larger multinational organizations is their need to be able to standardize fluid identification conventions and practices across multiple facilities in multiple geographic locations.

In short, Users have no ability (or source) for a fully integrated, on-demand customized storage, management, creation and supply system for standardized Fluid ID labels, attendant safety documents and support applications to create and implement their own unique fluid identification labels that meet their particular dynamic requirements as and when required while also endeavoring to meet the compliance requirements of statutory safety authorities. Therefore, the manual pump of the present invention with its logo plate on the handle as well as the handle and threaded cap attaching to the drum with the lubricants of a designated color provides lubricant fluid identification for the user when pumping lubricants from a storage drum or a hand held drum to move fluids around the plant or at a military facility when maintaining equipment requiring lubricants.

Users require an easily, readily and broadly accessible on-demand system for the centralized creation, storage, management and delivery of fluid identification conventions and attendant fully customized fluid identification labels and attendant supporting documents (such as Material Safety Data Sheets (“MSDS”), Product Data Sheets (“PDS”) or Hazmat/NFPA Labels etc.) for deployment locally or across multiple locations for the accurate identification and application of fluids from bulk storage, to intermediate container to point of use.

The manual pump of the present invention enables a color coding of the pumps to match the various pumps with the oil to prevent cross contamination of oils by fitting exchangeable colored body covers to the pump body. Currently available in industrial colors to fully integrate with the supply chain labeling system of the above referenced utility patent application. So the manual pump is screwed onto the top of a drum of the appropriate color to match the pump color to prevent a mixing of lubricants that may damage or contaminate equipment requiring a certain lubricant.

An object of the present invention is to be able to change the color of the outer housing on the manual pump to match the desire color to represent the proper lubricant within the drum or container that the manual pump is mounted to.

Another object of the present invention is to have the ability to change the color indicia on the manual pump that is fully serviceable in the field without special tools.

Still another object of the present invention is having a logo plate on the handle of the manual pump for proper identification of lubricant or other proper identification indicia relevant to the end use of the lubricant in the drum with a particular manual pump in which the logo plate is removably mounted on the handle.

Yet another object of the present invention is having a manual pump configured to be fully serviceable in the field with regard to the seals on the various moving parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a manual pump includes a generally pump body having one or more ports for regulating the pumped lubricant fluids passing therethrough and a central passage extending from a top to a bottom of the body for fixedly receiving an outer barrel therein receiving, a cylinder axially received within the barrel, a piston slideably located within the inner circumference of the cylinder having a piston seal to create the pumping action, a shaft connected axially to the piston and extending at its distal end above and axially through the center of a threaded cap that attaches to a drum with lubricant fluids and ends connected to a handle with an insertable logo plate for indicating fluids or other information, and a color indicating cover removably attached to the pump body to provide the final identification of a particular lubricating fluid within the drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a manual pump made in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a manual pump in accordance with the invention of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a manual pump in accordance with the invention of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 shown in the invention. FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a manual lubricant fluid pump 10 made in accordance with the invention. The invention includes various color schemes for lubricant fluid identification and a quick disconnect feature as shown in FIGS. 2-3.

There are a number of features shown in each of FIGS. 1-3 and the chart below spells out other functional characteristics of the new manual pump.

The following chart sets out key functional characteristics of the manual pump 10 as compared to the traditional prior art manual pumps currently found in the market.

Manual Pump in accordance with the Invention Prior Art Manual Pumps Principal purpose Prior Art of our invention is to: Manual Pump: Enable the color coding of the Typically only available in a very pumps to match the various pumps limited range of colors. with the oil to prevent cross Design provides little or no ability contamination of oils, by fitting for servicing or maintaining of exchangeable colored body covers internal components. to the pump body. Currently, ten Are generally considered a throw colors are provided to fully away item for this reason. integrate with related application Designed primarily to lowest cost, called Label Safe Labeling System. rather than for durability. Protect the oils from damage or Generally only used for low contamination, by having fully pressure oil transfer with limited sealed non spill configurations range of materials used in the available. construction. Purpose designed extra port on Generally available with one type pump body to allow fitment of of hose and nozzle configuration. Filter or Desiccant air breathers, to protect oil from air contamination. The Pump unit is fully serviceable, by user with ability to fit or exchange multiple seal and primary components with materials to suit various fluid types. Fitment of the purposely designed threaded hose connectors 48, allows end users to fit the majority of available, quick connect fitting types 52 in the market to the pump together with other dispensing accessories. A discharge non return valve 50 fitted into the pump body to maximize upstroke pumping efficiency. Top loading design construction of the pump allows removal and servicing of main piston seal 32 without requiring removal of pump 10 from oil drum. Top loading of pump cylinders and the rolled retention lip design maximize resistance to back pressure damage or failure of pump unit. This ensures that the User will always find their lubricant in good condition and will ensure that they apply the correct type of oil to the correct lube location on the machines. The pump is designed for durability and long service, with serviceable components. Key features: Coding covers available in ten Colors. Design allows for a maximized level of serviceability and customization of the pump, by owner or the user to suit maximized number of potential end requirements. Fully integrated with our Label Safe and Oil Safe range of products. Key components can be replaced or manufactured in a range of sizes and materials to accommodate different user requirements at a much lower cost. FIGS. 1-3 of the PUMP 10 is attached for illustration.

The manual pump 10 for dispensing industrial lubricants that complements a labeling system for storing and managing customized fluid identification labels 12 to accurately and uniquely identify fluids for an advanced fluid management system in which the pump attaches by a two-way threaded cap 14 to a drum or a container opening (not shown) for moving lubricants from a bulk storage to an intermediate container or to the point of application on plant equipment or machinery.

A generally cylindrical pump body 16 having one or more ports 18 for regulating the pumped lubricant fluids passing therethrough includes a central passage 20 extending from a top 22 to a bottom 24 of the body 16 for fixedly receiving an outer barrel 26 therein having a cylinder 28 axially received within the barrel 26. A piston 30 slideably located within the inner circumference of the cylinder 28 having a piston seal 32 to create the pumping action.

A shaft 34 connected axially to the piston 30 and extending at its distal end above and axially through the center of a threaded cap 36 that attaches to the drum or the container opening (not shown) with lubricant fluids having one end 38 connected to a handle 40 with an insertable logo plate 42 for indicating the type of fluids in the drum or container or other information

A color indicating cover 44 having two halves that are removably attached to the pump body 16 to provide a final identification of a particular lubricating fluid within the drum or container to assure the proper application of lubricating fluids to the plant equipment.

The manual pump 10 with the manually attached pump threaded cap 14 is screwed onto the top of a drum or container (not shown) of an appropriate color to match the pump color to prevent a mixing of lubricants that may damage or contaminate equipment requiring a certain lubricant.

The manual pump 10 with the exchangeable cover 44 broken into halves provides the ability to change the color indicia cover 44 on the manual pump that is fully serviceable in the field without special tools. The two halves of the cover 44 snap fit into place to form a single cover unit 44 or any other suitable fastening means.

The manual pump 10 including the logo plate 42 on the handle of the manual pump 10 for proper identification of lubricant or other proper identification indicia 12 relevant to the end use of the lubricant in the drum or container with a particular manual pump in which the logo plate 42 is removably mounted on the handle 40 by a pair of nibs that extend vertically downward from the underside of the logo plate 42 to snap fit into corresponding holes (not shown) on the top portion of the handle 40 to change information on the lubricant to match the predetermined application of industrial lubricants for plant equipment. 

1. A manual pump for dispensing industrial lubricants that complements a labeling system for storing and managing customized fluid identification labels to accurately and uniquely identify fluids for an advanced fluid management system in which the pump attaches to a drum or a container opening for moving lubricants from a bulk storage to an intermediate container or to the point of application on plant equipment or machinery, comprising: a generally pump body having one or more ports for regulating the pumped lubricant fluids passing therethrough; a central passage extending from a top to a bottom of the body for fixedly receiving an outer barrel therein; a cylinder axially received within the barrel; a piston slideably located within the inner circumference of the cylinder having a piston seal to create the pumping action; a shaft connected axially to the piston and extending at its distal end above and axially through the center of a threaded cap that attaches to the drum or the container opening with lubricant fluids having one end connected to a handle with an insertable logo plate for indicating the type of fluids in the drum or container or other information; a color indicating cover removably attached to the pump body to provide a final identification of a particular lubricating fluid within the drum or container to assure the proper application of lubricating fluids to the plant equipment.
 2. A manual pump of claim 1, wherein the manual pump threaded cap is screwed onto the top of a drum or container of an appropriate color to match the pump color to prevent a mixing of lubricants that may damage or contaminate equipment requiring a certain lubricant.
 3. A manual pump of claim 1, wherein the ability to change the color indicia cover on the manual pump that is fully serviceable in the field without special tools.
 4. A manual pump of claim 1, wherein the logo plate on the handle of the manual pump for proper identification of lubricant or other proper identification indicia relevant to the end use of the lubricant in the drum or container with a particular manual pump in which the logo plate is removably mounted on the handle to change information on the lubricant to match the predetermined application of industrial lubricants for plant equipment. 